Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-05
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Voted Upon in Texas Tbursday-COnser.
vative Prohibition Leaders Concede
Their Defeat-What the Amendments
Are.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex Anr 4

Jan aNloNlO, SA.s aug, I.
The whole State of Texas is excited over
the prohibition fight which will take place
today. So close is the struggle that it is
/ impossible TO predict which party will wiz.
The prohibitionists are led by Senator Rea-
gan, ex-senator Maxey, and ex-Congressman
Herndon, while the anti prohbitionists are
headed by exGov Ireland, Governor Ross
Senator Coke, Congressman Mills, Crane
and Sayres and ex-Congressman Hancock.
Should the prohibitionists unite, it is said
that the democrats will permanently lose
Texas, as a new party will at once be organ
lied.
ln addition to the prohibition amendment
tve other amendments were voted on by the
people of Texas today. The proposed pro-
hibition amendment is as follows
The manufacture, sale and exchange of in
toxicating liquors, except for medical, me-
chanical, sacramental and scientific purposes,
is hereby prohibited in the State of Texas
The legislature shall, at the first lsession
held after the adoption of the amendment,
enact necessary laws to put this provision
into effect.
At present the liquor clause in the consti
tuition reads as follows:
The legislature shall at the first session
enact a law whereby the qualified voters OF
any county, Justices precinct, town or city,
by msJority vote, from time to TIM :, may
determine whether the sale of Intoxicating
liquors shall be prohibited within the pre-
scribed Limits.
Inc second proposed amendment provid
that the members of the legislature shall re-
ceive 50 per day for the first 80 days. and 81
per day for the remainder of the session. At
present they receive So per day for the first
60 days, and 81 per day for the remainder of
tae session. As the legislature meets only
once IN two wears it is impossible to perform
the necessary work in 60 days, hence the
present law in many cases Keeps men al
Austin ar 81 per day, who at home could
earn much more.
ihe constitution Of Texas provides that the
permanent university fund shall be invested
IN bonds of the State of Texas or OF the
United States. The third amendment pro
vldes that the permanent university fund
shall be invested in bonds of the United
States, the State of Texas, the counties in
said State, or in such other securities and
under such restrictions as may .be prescribed
by law, and the State shall be responsible for
all Investments.
The fourth amendment relates to taxation
in the unorganized counties, and is as fol-
lows:
The Legislators shall provide for the as
sessment and collection of State and county
taxes upon all property subject to taxation
situated IN un0rganZed counties. Provided,
that such unorganzed counties shall not be
taxed to pay for public Improvements in the
organized county to which they are attached
for Judicial purposes.
AT present the constitution on this point is
as follows:
All property subject TO taxation in, and
owned by residents OF unorganized counties
shall be assessed and the taxes thereon paid
in the counties to which such unorganized
counties shall be attached for judicial pur
poses, and lands lying in aud owned by non
residents of unorganized counties and lands
lying in the territory not laid off into counties
shall be assessed, and the taxes thereon col
lected at the office of the comptroller of the
State.
The fifth proposed amendment provides
that ''the legislature may provide by law for
the registration of all voters in all cities con-
tanning population of 10000 inhabitants or
more, and in such counties as the legislature
may deem advisable"
The constitution at present says that no
law shall ever be enacted requiring regis
tration of the voters of this state.
The sixth and last amendment relates t.
the judiciary. Ii increases the number Of
justices of the supreme court from three TO
five, and increases the salary of the supreme
and appellate court ju tges from $3.50 to
$4,000 1t also provides that district court
Judge shall be at least % years old. instead of
% and shall have been practising LAWYER
six instead Of four years. Several other
minor changes are made by the sixth amend
ment
The canvass has been marked by two
grand State rallies, both at Fort Worth; one
given by the prOhlbtionists, June 80, the
other by the 'antis" July 2G. OF Congress
men and men of national reputation in Tex,
the "Antis" have majority Senator Rea-
gan is prohibitionist Senator Coke is an
ami; ex Senator Webster Flanagan, re
publican, and ex Senator Maxey are prohibi-
tiouists. Congressman Culberson, Martin
(Reagan's successor), Lanhsm and Hsse
(phrockmorton's successor), ex-Congress
man Jones, republican, aud ex.Congressman
Herdon are for the amendment, while Con-
gresslnen Mills, Sayers, Kilgore, Grain,
Abbett, Moore and Stewart and ex- Congress
men Throckmorten and Giddngs oppose it,
as do also Governor Lawrence Sullivan Ross,
L eutenant Governor Wheeler, Ex-Governor
John Ireland ,ex- Lieutenant Governor Barrett
| Gibbs, Ex-Governor Swain Robinson, and
last but not least, N w. Currey. the colored
republican leader of the State. Hon. A. Z.
Norton the white republican leader in Texas
in the last canvass, and Judges Henry and
Barnes, are noted prohibitionists
The most conservative prohibition leaders
conceded their defeat this morning by from
10000 to %, 900 votes, but there are many in
their ranks who confidently look for victory.
AUSTIN, Tex, Aug. 4.
Returns received to a late hour indicate
that prohibition has been defeated by a ma
Jority sppr0ximsting 10000. All the large
towns gave majorities against the amendment
except 1t. Worth.